Michael Shatters Box Office Records for Music Biopics with $217.4 Million Opening The biographical film Michael, a big-budget spectacle about the life of Michael Jackson, defied critical backlash and production challenges to open with $97 million in the United States and Canada, according to studio estimates. This figure, combined with $120.4 million in international sales, brought the film’s global opening to $217.4 million—a record for music biopics. Universal Pictures secured distribution rights in most international markets, highlighting the film’s commercial potential despite its controversial subject matter. The film’s production faced significant hurdles. After principal photography wrapped, producers discovered a major legal issue: the third act focused on allegations against Jordan Chandler, a 13-year-old boy who received a $23 million settlement from Jackson in 1994. The terms of that settlement prohibited the Jackson estate from mentioning Chandler in any film. As a result, a substantial portion of the script had to be rewritten or cut. Reshoots costing up to $50 million were conducted at the estate’s expense, and director Antoine Fuqua and screenwriter John Logan restructured the film to conclude in 1988, before the allegations surfaced. The film’s total production cost approached $200 million, prompting Lionsgate to sell international distribution rights to Universal to offset expenses. While a sequel has not been officially announced, industry insiders suggest it may be in the works. Despite its rocky production, the film became a box office success, with audiences rating it an “A-” on CinemaScore, though critics panned it for glossing over contentious aspects of Jackson’s life. The film scored a dismal 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting its polarizing reception.#michael_jackson #universal_pictures #antoine_fuqua #jordan_chandler #john_logan
